Restless Legs in Pregnancy: Hi everyone... - Restless Legs Syn...

Restless Legs Syndrome

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Restless Legs in Pregnancy

TanjaRLS profile image
4 Replies

Hi everyone,

I am not even sure why I am writing this message - partly because I want to vent; partly because I would like some advice.

I have had about 2-3 episodes of mild and short lasting (3ish days) of restless legs outside of pregnancy. I remember the restless legs to be quite bad in my first pregnancy - but as I didn’t have a toddler running around I did get some day time naps done.

This is my second pregnancy and I am currently 37 weeks. I have had daily symptoms for at least 8 weeks now and I am nearly at my wits end. I sleep fragmented but only a few hours during the night and when I wake up in the morning I just don’t know how to make it through the day (because of exhaustion).

Will this likely go away after pregnancy (I am starting to get really concerned it won’t - because this is not compatible with me raising a family and having a demanding job...)?

I have tried everything (reasonable) under the horizon: calcium; mag; iron; folic acid; hot/cold packs/stretches; nightly hot showers; gentle exercise; I even bought a TENS machine and even tried some codeine (of which I am actually not sure if it works). I spend the majority of my nights browsing this forum (hey! I am awake for most of the night anyways) and I think there isn’t much else at this stage I can do?

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TanjaRLS
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4 Replies
Madlegs1 profile image
Madlegs1

Sorry to hear of your troubles.

My own daughter suffered in her third trimester.

She had some success with making up a magnesium rub. She put half and half water and epsom salts, say a cup of each, into a jar, and rubbed the solution on her legs.

It feels a little bit oily, and some people find it stings them. If you can keep it on for 15 to 20 mins, and then wash it off-- it should help a lot.

The baby is drawing down a lot of minerals from you, and it seems magnesium is one of these!

The other thing to watch for is possible triggers. Msg, sulphates in processed meats, artificial sweeteners and so on. Basically any processed food can be a culprit-😤

I hope you get some relief. It can be exhausting coping with a rambunctious littlun and the bump as well.

You have taken iron as well, people say to take Gentle Iron in the evening on an empty stomach with vit C. Every second day is best, apparently.😊

Good luck.🤰

Kaarina profile image
KaarinaAdministrator

You may find some help in this thread:

healthunlocked.com/rlsuk/po...

Smuu profile image
Smuu

I started having RLS when I was pregnant. That was over 30 years ago and it never went away. Most of the time it will go away after birth. During the pregnancy I would stretch the back of my calves before going to bed. I might be up and down out of the bed a few times for about an hour, stretching my calves then it would finally stop. Everyone is different. Maybe it will help you. Also....potassium citrate and drinking plenty of water could help. Potassium and plenty of water can help relax the muscles. I would stay away from opiods for the baby's sake. Opiods can cause defects in a baby especially the last trimester.

Transimpact profile image
Transimpact

try alkalising your body, get PH test paper from a good chemist and test urine... green foods, and vegies all alkalise. i take spiralina each day and a teaspoon of bicarb at night and it helps a lot

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